One of the things on my Bucket List is flying RC planes. My wife decided to surprise me with an E-flite Apprentice complete with Spektrum DX6i system for my 62nd birthday. After two weekends of trying to meet up with an instructor and failing to do so, I decided to just go do it. I have been doing well on the simulator so Sunday evening my wife and I went back to the flying field just before sunset. The wind was a little higher than I really wanted but I'd been flying in winds on the sim. Time to go. First lesson, the tricycle gear and small wheels on the plane don't really like a grass runway even though the grass was cut short. The plane was zigging and zagging during the take off run as the wheels snagged. I got it off the ground and learned lesson #2. The real plane is a LOT more sensitive to wind and control inputs than the sim. About ten feet off the ground a gust caught the plane and pitched it up into the start of a loop. I rolled it back upright thereby doing a half-loop and reversing direction. Suddenly I'm headed downwind with the throttle still wide open. The next few seconds were...let's just say interesting. I rode a bull once and the two experiences have something in common. I believe I executed at least three stalls, an Immelmann turn, and possibly a Lomcevak. All without intending to. Once I more or less got control I flew the pattern and then turned on final approach. Given the headwind I was carrying some power. I hadn't noticed my wife standing at the approach end of the runway watching the excitement and I guess from her perspective it really did look like the plane was heading right for her. She yelled "Is it attacking?" and ran to get out of the way. I didn't have a chance to reassure her that she had nothing to worry about. The plane was still at least 6' off the ground when it passed the point where she had been standing. My wife is only 5'4". She missed a great photo opportunity. I didn't touch down exactly where I intended to but the landing was good. I made two more take-offs and landings. The second flight was much less exciting than the first, I left out the Lomcevak, and by the third I almost looked like I knew what I was doing. I'm proud to say that all three landings were smooth and drama-free. They were even in the same field from which I took off. As we packed up to leave my wife asked if it was as much fun as it looked. Yes, it was.

Storm, well done that man
I had a similar 'event' with a flying wing off the top of a valley in South Wales (UK).
The wind coming up the valley totally took me by surprise at first. Like you, I triumphed in the end with a 30+ minute flight just riding the up-wind, and the occasional burst to get me back where the lift was best. No near miss with anyone/thing, except the ground on initial take-off

This says something about your natural ability of course, the sim, and the remarkably well behaved Apprentice. I've flown this plane (with a friend buddy-boxing, while getting him up-to-speed), and I was really impressed with that aircraft. The Apprentice has got to be one of the best trainers out there. And that, Storm, says something about your wife -- she chose wisely!

2) While your incident almost running over your wife sounds amusing, I just want you to be aware that electric plane propellers are usually more dangerous than the nitro or gas powered planes. They can do serious damage, and the thing about electrics is they don't stop after the first hit, they want to keep going. Just an FYI so you're aware. If the battery is in the plane, treat it like the prop is alive. Just hate to see someone get hurt. I used to see gory pics here once a month, maybe people are getting more careful.

Anyway, have fun with that Apprentice. I don't fly from grass but heard many people who do put larger tires on them. I wonder if the new Apprentice S gear and tires (Which are taller and larger) are a direct fit?

Lol, you forgot to pull the throttle back? We've all been there, I did the same thing. I never needed an instructor, but things would have gone better if I had one. Still, many years later, that doesn't really matter, and I've had fun on the way.

Thanks, everyone. Yes, I'm very lucky in the lady I married. I think I'll keep her.

Also, while I intentionally wrote my post to bring out the humor of the event, I'm very aware of the dangers of motors and spinning blades. I spent my life working as a paramedic and also picked up some time in full scale aircraft. One of my planes was a 1939 Aeronca that lacked a starter. Hand propping that thing would make a believer out of you.

Thanks, everyone. Yes, I'm very lucky in the lady I married. I think I'll keep her.

Also, while I intentionally wrote my post to bring out the humor of the event, I'm very aware of the dangers of motors and spinning blades. I spent my life working as a paramedic and also picked up some time in full scale aircraft. One of my planes was a 1939 Aeronca that lacked a starter. Hand propping that thing would make a believer out of you.

None taken. It sounds like you're on your way to being a good stunt pilot saving it like you did on takeoff! The Apprentice is actually fun to do stunting with. Just last week I ran 3 batteries through in windy, gusty conditions, and had a blast. At takeoff, I could point the nose way up and with the wind it was just going straight up like a rocket! Then into some barrel rolls, loops, hammerhead stalls, and then a snails-pace approach and the gentlest touch and go, then repeat. A real fun time!